Various services, such as YouTube, Google Maps,and more

Access It At...

• Allows users to wear virtual-reality goggles and experience virtual reality photo-spheres or video-spheres

• School provides cardboard goggles; student provides BYOD mobile device

• High level of engagement, brings learning to life

At a Glance...

Required Knowledge...

• Basic mobile device usage• Basic web browsing

Username / Password

• Varies, based on which service you use

Google Cardboard Virtual RealityGoogle Cardboard Virtual Reality

To begin with, you’ll need to access virtual-reality photo/videospheres. These exist on many services. Here aresome common ones. Note to view these video/photos, you’ll need to access the content through the app for theservice. For example, pulling up “YouTube” using a web browser on a phone will not enable the VR features.But, if you install and launch the YouTube app, you WILL be able to access them.

Note that LRMS provides “Google Cardboard” goggles, but students must provide their own deviceto use inside of it. LRMS owns no small mobile devices that will work with Google Cardboard.

YouTubeA great place to start is the YouTube VR channel. Search YouTube for “Google Cardboard” and look forthe channel “360° Videos.” Google Maps Street ViewYou can find many locations throughout the world to experience in “360.” Install the app, find a locationon the map, and launch the VR view. Google ExpeditionsThis app is designed for education and contains tools that let the teacher lead “expeditions” throughinternational locations. Note this app is still in the testing phase and has not been released to thepublic as of April, 2016. Note not all apps are available for every operating system (Apple iOS, Android, Windows).

For our tutorial, let’s load a location using the “Google Street View” app. Launch theapp on your device. You can see category tabs at the top.Collections may be a good starting spot.Explore lets you use the map to find locations yourself.Profile features VR photospheres that you’ve created/uploaded.

As you zoom in on the map (use a finger pinch to zoom), tap on a red dot. Thatindicates a spot that has a 360 panoramic photosphere. You’ll see themodule pop up at the bottom of your screen. Tap on it to launch it and it willfill the screen.

Here, you can simply tap on the image andmove your finger left or right to rotatearound the location. That’s something thatcan be done on any device (even acomputer). To access the VR version for the GoogleCardboard goggles, tap the goggle iconat the top right.

Launches Google Cardboard version

Your device screen will now be setup to work in VR mode.You can tap the settings cog to make decisions about thequality of the image (if the Google Cardboard app isinstalled on your device - it’s not a necessity).

Now, place the device into the Google Cardboard goggle. Be sure “up is facing up.” You may have to move thedevice a bit to the left or right within the goggles to achieve an optimized experience.

As you turn your head, your view turns with it.Look up, look down! While much of the VR content available isbased on still image photos, you’ll also encountersome that are full-motion video views, completewith sound!

Close the lid and secure with the Velcro“locks.” For extra safety, run a rubber bandaround to insure your device doesn’tfall out.

Look for the orange“+” button at the bottomright of Google StreetView to create a VRphotosphere.

You can create VR photospheres using a SmartPhone and the Google Street View app. You can either keepthese private (for you to access only) or publish them to Google (where they’ll show up publicly as part ofGoogle Maps).

You’ll likely want to choose“Camera” on the next screen,to use your device’s own camerato create.

Stand in the middle of the location you’re trying to capture. Look for the orangedot. Move your device so the white outline circle aligns with the orange dot.The device will automatically take a picture. From there, move in any directionyou wish to turn: left right, up, or down. A series of orange dots will appear.Your job is to continue to align the white outline circle over the orange dot. Try to keep your feet in the same spot, rotating your body very carefullyto capture a full 360 degrees around you.

Here you can see a few photos of the locationhave been taken. Once enough photos have beentaken of the location, the “check” button at thebottom will turn green. Tap it once that happens. From there, follow the instructions on screento complete the photosphere and choose tokeep it private or publish it to Google Maps.

To launch a VR video on YouTube, launch thevideo as usual, but look for the VR gogglebutton at the bottom right. This will give youthe view needed by Google Cardboard.

Helpful Educational Google Cardboard VR Apps and ServicesClick the link to follow to the service/app.

Google Street View AppLocations from around the world; create your own iPhone Android

YouTube 360 Video Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzuqhhs6NWbgTzMuM09WKDQ

Titans of Space (a short tour of planets and stars) https://unimersiv.com/vr-experience/titans-of-space-3/

Discovery VR - a collection of experiences from Discovery Channel http://www.discoveryvr.com/#/featured-videos

Google Cardboard Educational Community - links to different VR experiences https://plus.google.com/communities/103070326999809122127